The Perth Wildcats emphatically reclaimed top spot on the NBL ladder, embarrassing the Sydney Kings 88-68 on Sunday at Qudos Bank Arena.

Brimming with confidence after Friday’s comprehensive home win over an in-form Adelaide, the Wildcats ruthlessly dismantled the Kings, leading by as many as 26 in the third quarter.

Sydney coach Andrew Gaze would’ve had high hopes after Friday’s hard-fought away victory over Brisbane but his team was sent crashing back to earth with their third straight home loss — all by double digits.

The Kings’ 68 points represented their lowest output during Gaze’s three-year tenure with the club.

American duo Bryce Cotton (16 points) and Terrico White (13) were prominent in the runaway win.

Bench bomber Clint Steindl had 18, while forward Nick Kay (16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists) produced one of the best games of his career.

Wildcats pull apart Kings

Wildcats pull apart Kings

Kings stars Jerome Randle and Andrew Bogut combined for 22 points, but Sydney were punished for lazy rebounding and continue to look vulnerable whenever defensive anchor Bogut is forced to the bench with fouls.

With five games remaining and their position in the top four under increasing threat, Gaze has to quickly find a way to restore his team’s confidence on their home court.

Scores were tied at 20-all late in the first period before Kings forward Daniel Kickert’s three-point shot in the closing seconds made it 23-20 at quarter-time. But that’s when the party stopped for Sydney.

The Cats pounced on a strangely subdued Kings in the second period, taking a stranglehold on the game through their suffocating defence.

With Bogut on the bench in foul trouble, the visitors swiftly turned a six-point lead into a 47-31 half-time advantage, restricting the Kings to a measly eight points in the quarter and exposing the offensive shortcomings which have plagued their recent performances.

The Cats were never threatened in the second half, blowing the margin out to 26 and chalking up their 15th win to jump into top spot at Sydney’s expense.The Kings (14-9) return to Brisbane on Friday to face the Bullets (12-10), while Perth host Illawarra, also on Friday.